Font for lamps or lanterns.



No., 787,644-,` PATENTE-D, um 18;. 1905@ H., ROL-PES.

Polmfr-` EUR. LAMPS. 0.13,v LANTBBPNS. APPLIUTIOH' FILED" 1&BB...2'. 1904.

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G. H RQLFES.

PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

G. H. ROLFES. POUNT POR LAMPS 0B. LANTERNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIGN.

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G.H.ROLFE'5.

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UNITED STATES Patented April 1s, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE H. ROLFES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO HANDLAN,

BUCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ACOR- PORATION.

FONT FOR LAMPS OR LANTEFNS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 787,644, dated April 18, 1905. Application filed April 2, 1904. Serial No. 201,335.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. RoLFEs, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Im-Y proveniente in Fonts for Lamps or Lanterns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a combined main and auxiliary font particularly intended for use in lamps or lanterns utilized for railway purposes, the object of the invention being to furnish, in connection with the main or burner font of a lamp or lantern, an auxiliary font by which the main font is replenished when the supply therein becomes diminished.

The invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a perspective view of a railwayswitch lamp, partly broken out, and my improved font shown therein. Fig. II is a perspective view of the main and auxiliary fonts shown in separated condition. Fig. III is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the main and auxiliary fonts. Fig. IV is a horizontal section taken on line IV IV, Fig. I.

Referring first to Figs. I to IV, inclusive, A designates a swltch-lamp provided with the usual semaphore-lenses B.

1 designates a-main font in which is seated the burner 2. In the top of the main font is an aperture 3, and mounted on said top is a vent-nipple 4, through which the gas generated from the oil in the font may find escape. 5 designates perforations in the top of the main font, that have communication with a tube leading downwardly therethrough and through which fresh air is permitted to pass into the interior of the lamp to supply the necessary oxygen to the ilame of the burner 2.

6 designates an auxiliary font provided with an annular oil-chamber 7 (see Fig. III) to hold oi'l introduced thereinto. The auxiliary font consists of inner and outer walls, and in the font are openings 8, through which the light from the burner 2 may pass to be shed through the semaphore-lenses B. The upper and lower portions of the auxiliary fontare connected by channels 9, located between the openings 8, so that the oil in the auxiliary font may have free circulation from top to bottom thereof. Depending from the bottom ofthe auxiliary font is a leg 10, that is seated in the aperture 3 in the top of the main font and extends downwardly into said main font when the two fonts are assembled, as illustrated in Fig. III. At the upper end of the leg 10 is a valve-seat 1l, that is provided with an orifice 12.

13 is a valve located above the valve-seat 11 for movement to and away from said seat, the valve being directed during its movement by guides 14, surmounting the valve-seat, and also by a valve-stem 15. that extends downwardly through the orifice 12 and is slidably positioned in a guide-bar4 16, located within the leg 10. At the lower end of the valve-stem 15 is a head 17.

18 is a spring-catch secured to the main font 1 and having an upwardly-extending free end` that engages the catch-pin 19, projecting from the auxiliary font to hold the two fonts lassembled when placed together.

When the fonts are to be placed in service, the auxiliary font is removed from the main font by disconnecting the catch 18 from the pin 19 and lifting the auxiliary font from the main font to withdraw the leg 10 from the opening 3 in which it rests. The main font is then filled with oil and the auxiliary fontis inverted and oil is introduced thereinto through the leg 10 and orifice 12 in the valveseat 11 to fill said font, during which action the valve 13 remains unseated to permit the inflow of the oil. The valve 13 is then drawn to its seat and the auxiliary font is turned into upright position and applied to the main font by passing its leg 10 through the opening 3 in the top of said main font, and the two fonts are connected together. In assembling the fonts the lower end of the valve stem 15 strikes against the bottom of the main font, thereby elevating the valve 13 from its seat to provide for communication between the auxiliary. and main fonts. During the service of the lamp or lantern the oil supplied tothe burner 2 is at first obtained from the quantity in the main font, `and the oil inthe auxiliary font remains undisturbed until the oil in the main font reaches a point beneath the level of the auxiliary-font leg 10 to permit ingress of. air into said auxiliary Jfont. AS soon as airis thus permitted toenter the-oil iiows from the auxiliary font into the main font through the leg 10 until it reaches the level of the lower end of said leg, `at Which time the leg again becomes sealed to prevent further flow until the supply in the main font is again diminished. VThe flow from the auxiliary font to the main font is thus kept up until the oil in both of the fonts is depleted. It will be seen thatI thus provide for a large supply of oil .that isconstantly delivered to the burnerfwick, vandtasga result of whiehithe t lamp or lantern may remain in service [with one filling. for a long period.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the .main font of a lamp or lantern, of an auxiliary fontdetachably fitted to said main font and eonsistingoi' lably fitted to said main font and consisting of inner and outer walls connected at their upper and lower ends and spaced apart to provide an 4annular .oil-chamber; said inner and outer -walls belng cut out intermediate their upper and lower ends to provide a plurality of light passage-waysspaced apart `:and spaced from the upper and lower ends ofthe walls.

GEO. H. 'ROLFES InVV presence of- NELLIE V.ALEXANDER, E. S. KNIGHT. 

